Nearly 5,000 people have been killed in car crashes involving teen drivers during what's called the "100 Deadliest Days" in the past five years, according to the American Automobile Association.
The group says summer is the deadliest time of year for teen drivers. But there are things parents can do to keep kids safe.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol recommends parents use apps to sync teens’ phones with their cars.
Most of these apps are provided through cellphone or insurance companies.
"All that technology is out there. We need to be utilizing it,” said Sergeant Bill Lowe with the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Here is a list of helpful apps and what they do:
- Sends a text alerting people when the person is driving
- Silences incoming calls/text messages
- Automatically turns on when the car is going 15 mph
- Sends boundary and speed alerts to parents
- Gives a location of where teen driver is
- Enables location sharing with family
- Shows if your teen used their cell phone while driving
- Provides 24/7 road side assistance to call for help
- Blocks texting and social media
- Monitors driving performance including speed
For more apps, click here.
Even through these apps are helpful, Lowe says do not depend on them to teach your teen how to drive.
“It doesn't mean you as a parent just rely on that app," Lowe said. "You need to monitor your child's driving behavior, drive with them every once and a while."
Lowe added that parents still need to make sure their teens maintain good driving habits.
For more information on the 100 Deadliest Days, click here.
